Shoppers and office workers leaving for the day tried desperately to help the two men but they died of their injuries.

During Saturday’s ceremony people raised a toast to Ian and Wayne and bouquets of flowers were also placed in the spot where it happened.

Becky Mitchell, Big Issue manager for the West Midlands, said the £5,000 had been raised by donations from members of the public and also staff doing fund-raising events, including sky-diving.

The money will be poured back into helping Big Issue sellers rebuild their lives by finding employment and permanent accommodation.

A plaque has also been made in memory of the two men, paid for by Big Issue sellers out of “tips” shoppers give them when buying the magazine.

Big Issue sellers Wayne Lee Busst (left) and Ian Watson-Gladwish

Although the plaque has been made, discussions are ongoing with the city council and local shops to decide where it will be placed.

Miss Mitchell said: “I’ve been dreading the first anniversary for weeks and weeks because it’s been a very difficult year for us all. Wayne and Ian were two of the nicest men you could meet – no-one had anything bad to say about them and their deaths hit everyone hard.

“But today, although it’s been very sad, has also been a celebration of their lives with a toast to their memory.”

Fellow Big Issue seller of two years, Ollie Bain, aged 34, said the murders nearly drove him to quit being a vendor himself.

“I knew Ian well, but not Wayne so much, and I can’t believe it’s been a year since they died,” he said.

“It’s been a really tough year and after that, a lot of vendors quit and I even considered it myself.

“People don’t realise how dangerous it can be being a Big Issue vendor with people shouting ‘get a job’ at you and making threats.

“But I decided to stick with it because the chances of something like that happening again are remote.”

Last October, Ward, 23, pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Ian Ward was jailed for a minimum of 12 years after he killed the two Big Issue sellers